ThinkFlood Ports RedEye iOS Remote Control App Over to Android

System combines Wi-Fi and infrared to give users control of in-home devices from anywhere

ThinkFlood, maker of the RedEye remote control system, has announced the release of an Android version of its RedEye app. The app and its associated RedEye hardware are designed to control a variety of devices, including home theater components and lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

Previously the RedEye app was available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch from the Apple App Store. The release of an Android version pushes forward ThinkFlood's plan to expand the system to Apple's main competitor among mobile operating systems and to Windows-, Linux- and OS X-based computers.

The latest release of the app, Version 2.7.0, supports devices running Android versions 1.6 up to 3.0 (Honeycomb). That keeps it in line with the iOS version because it allows both Android smartphones and tablets to operate as surrogate remotes (assuming, of course, that ThinkFlood's extensive online database has the right codes for your devices).

According to ThinkFlood, none of the other remote control systems that are designed to work on these gadgets, including the Griffin Beacon, VooMote and Unity, can run on Android. The maker of the RedEye also claims other advantages for its product over the competition, including multi-user and multi-zone capability, battery-free operation, inclusion of an in-built iPhone and iPod charger and superior network range.

The RedEye app requires ThinkFlood's RedEye or
RedEye Pro hardware to control devices in the home. The app connects to
the hardware over a wireless network. The hardware then relays
the commands using infrared like a standard remote.

"RedEye allows you to use any networked device as a controller - so when one phone is unavailable, you can switch to using RedEye on another device - whether itʼs a tablet, laptop or another phone," said Craig Materick, ThinkFloodʼs lead software architect. "This flexibility has other benefits - namely, that each person in your house can have their own controller, and they can control the system from just about anywhere."

One advantage of the RedEye over dedicated remote controls is that it can be operated from anywhere where a user has access to the app and the Internet (or even just the Internet if operated via a Web browser). However, ThinkFlood has the modesty to admit that their device can't replace a universal remote.

"When you take a multipurpose device like a smartphone or PC and attempt to use it as a replacement for a dedicated device like a traditional remote control, you canʼt simply copy the functionality of the dedicated device," said Materick.

More information on the RedEye system can be found on ThinkFlood's website. The Morton Report has a detailed review of the RedEye coming up.

Michael Simpson is a freelance writer, editor, presenter, researcher, instructor, gadget freak and sci-tech consultant based in British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan Valley. Formerly from the UK, he’s converted from tea to coffee and written and presented on film, TV, science, nature, technology,…